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Kenya: Man Gets 7 Years for Killing Wife Over SMS
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The East African Standard (Nairobi)
1 May 2008
Posted to the web 1 May 2008
Judy Ogutu And Ngumbao Kithi
Nairobi
A matatu driver has been jailed for seven years for killing his wife over a love SMS message.
Justin Kipkosgey Kibiton stabbed Reginah Chemtai Chepkonga, then an air hostess with Kenya Airways, two years ago, following a quarrel over "a love message".
At first, Kibiton was charged with murder but it was later reduced to manslaughter last Tuesday.
The quarrel between the couple on June 22, 2005 over the message led to a fight where the man killed his wife.
The text message received on Kibiton's phone read: " I long to see you."
Evidence given in court was that the deceased her husband with a handbag and attempted to stab him with a knife.
But the accused seized the knife and stabbed her instead. Kibiton's landlord is said to have tried to help Chemutai after hearing her screams, to no avail.
The previous night, the couple had drunk heavily.
Chemutai was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Lang'ata, Nairobi, and was later transferred to Nairobi Women's Hospital where she died of infections in the abdomen.
High Court Judge, Justice Muga Apondi, rejected Kibiton lawyer's plea for a non-custodial sentence.
Ms Mary Kiptoo said Kibiton had learnt his lesson when he was in custody for two years and four months awaiting the conclusion of the case.
"We seek leniency. He is remorseful. He regrets the death of the deceased who was his spouse. He has suffered psychologically for the unfortunate incident," his lawyer pleaded.
Further, he said he was the family's sole breadwinner and looked after his aged parents and his seven-year-old child.
The judge said he had taken into consideration the period the accused had spent in custody and that he was a first offender.
However, he said the accused must take responsibility for his actions.
"It is unfortunate that the accused attacked the deceased after a text message. The violence meted on the deceased was untenable and unacceptable," he ruled.
Meanwhile, a former PS, Mr Philemon Mwaisaka, has obtained a court order to evict more than 100 squatters on his 78-acre plot.
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The order directs the Kilifi OCPD, and the OCS Mtwapa police station to provide security to the court official executing the eviction orders.
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